Loriol sur Drome Chef lieu Wastewater Treatment Plant - Loriol-sur-Drôme, France

Loriol sur Drome Chef lieu is a wastewater treatment facility located in Loriol-sur-Drôme, a commune in the Drôme department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,083 and is situated in the Rhône River basin, an area known for its agricultural and industrial activity. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 12,000 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 728.4 m³/day, the facility has significant reserve capacity to accommodate future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Rhône River, one of Europe's major waterways. The Rhône flows into the Mediterranean Sea, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and providing water for irrigation, industry, and recreation. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect these downstream environments from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.

The plant discharges into the Drôme River, a tributary of the Rhône River, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Drôme River supports a diverse aquatic ecosystem, including fish species such as the European eel and various migratory birds. The advanced treatment at this facility helps reduce nutrient loading and protect water quality in the Rhône basin, which is ecologically sensitive due to its role as a migratory corridor and its proximity to the Camargue delta, a wetland of international importance.